Honest Heart, Honest Wallet

Annanias and Sapphira contrast with Barnabas

All those who claimed Jesus Christ, sold property and gave it to the Apostles to be distributed.

Barnabas was recognized as a leader of distinction for giving encouragement

who sold a field and gave the money to the Apostles for distribution.

Annanias and Sapphira are infamous for the Churches first hypocrites.

They became an example of what NOT to do.

They withheld part of the proceeds of the sale.

They told others in the church that it was everything.

They thought no one would ever find out.

If they did not claim that they gave away all the money, no wrong would have been done.

They had stolen a portion of what they already committed to God.

An example of hypocrisy

They wanted public recognition without genuine character.

If all who believed were of one heart and one soul, then Ananias and Sapphira were not.

They attempted to look like believers but did not act in good faith.

Their money showed what they valued.

The result: they immediately dropped dead.

The church mourned their first losses since Christ.

The sobering truth:

God alone has the power to bring judgment with immediate effect.

A great fear seized the Church.

It’s better to fear God than to be afraid of the judgment of other people.

Transition: People often want to look good without making the effort of being good.

People want to look good in public

From looking beautiful,

(this why people use Photoshop)

to training to have a good sounding voice or movement,

to doing things that get likes on social media,

to get votes for our opinions.

Looking Good and Being Good are two entirely different things.

Looking Good is about us, Being Good is about Others.

Looking Good is shallow and fleeting, Being Good takes a lifetime.

The slaying of Ananias and Sapphira was powerful and immediate.

It was also wise and gracious, it would deter anyone from following their example.

Apostles managed the giving and distribution with spiritual discernment.

Peter did not pronounce judgment, he announced the judgment of God.

It was the Spirit would passed judgment on the two who lied to God’s people.

It was the Holy Spirit of God who removed their breaths from their bodies.

This was a visceral warning from God to the Church.

There was plenty of time between the sale of the property and their lie for them to change their minds.

It is the Holy Spirit purifies the Church of sin from without and from within.

Satan tempts us with enticements and attempts to draw us away from loving faithfully.

The Spirit brings to the believer a vivid awareness of what is good and right.

As the living body of Christ:

The Church must be known as those who are called together by God, grafted into the body of Christ through baptism, given a new life of love, united in fellowship, and disciplined by convincing words and convicting Spirit to love others to the fullest.

While, only the Church that is received with Christ in the end will be made wholly pure from sin,

We must continue to pray and act as the Spirit directs us.

May God confront any unfaithfulness in us and extend grace to us even more in our faithful repentance that we may be with him in eternity and draw others to that perfect future.

God confronts our unfaithfulness that we might be a light to the world.

Others must know the Holy Love of God.

In the same way God’s people must be a people of Holy Love.

The more we love others, inwardly and outwardly, they will come to know the God who loves them.